Education, a challenge to returnees in Jonglei’s Twic East
By Philip Thon Aleu
February 9, 2009 (PANYAGOR, Jonglei) – Bol Abuoi, a primary three pupil at Panyagor, returned from Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya in 2008 only to find variation in teaching methodologies.
“Sometimes, we have one lesson a day even if teachers are at school,” the thirteen year-old boy told Sudan Tribune here on Saturday. Abuoi also noted that the number of teachers is quite low compared to their counterparts in Kakuma.
The 2009 academic year begins on February 2 in Bor County, breaking away from Sudan’s traditional curriculum of April 1 as the beginning classes. Twic East County, according to sources that spoke to Sudan Tribune, begins this year’s academic year on February 16. Commissioner Diing Akoi could not be reached to highlight some developments, constraints and priorities in his county as he is reportedly on official visit to Kenya.
After driving for an average time of four hours for about 75 miles (120 km) northward from Bor Town, a bus reaches Panyagor – the headquarters of Twic East County which covers Maar, Paliau, Wanglee, Pawel-Ajang and Wernyiol Payams. Dr. John Garang Memorial secondary school is built near Pawel Ajang, thus making Twic East one of the three counties having a higher school in Jonglei State.
The other counties are Bor and Pachala, where teaching methodologies, long holidays and lack of unified examinations have always been criticized by returnees’ pupils. Jonglei swiftly adopted the East African system of opening schools in February, copying from Yei County in Central Equatoria State, according to Gov. Kuol Manyang’s suggestion on African Child Day last year.
Settlement patterns have drastically changed from dotted to nuclear since 1991’s massive killing of people and looting of cattle following the split of Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Moment (SPLA/M). A faction opposed to SPLA/M strategies and modalities headed by current South Sudan Vice President Dr. Riek Machar then carried out the operation resulting in the 1992 disastrous drought and famine which forced Dinka Bor out of their homes, ending up in refugees’ or internally displaced persons’ camps. Other factors pushing people to semi-town centers in Twic East County include rampant rural-urban migration, poor health and education facilities and insecurity in remote villages. Many homes are situated around Panyagor, Pawel Ajang, Paliau, Wernyiol, Wanglee and Maar.
Agriculture has not done well here despite last year’s good rains and less flooding. The returnees in particular never reached their ancestors’ homestead to participate in land tilling, something people forgot while refugees. However, keeping cattle for marriage dowry, milk and meat has totally normalized 18 years (from 1991) after Dinka Bor were defeated in a tribal conflict seen as a way for the Khartoum government to destroy SPLA/M strongholds.
SEASONAL ROADS
In Twic East County — like other parts of Southern Sudan–food items are entirely imported from East Africa prompting fears that local communities are likely paying higher than expected. A distance of 120 km takes loaded vehicles six or more hours to reach Panyagor due to rough roads. The two seasonal roads connecting Twic East County to the Jonglei capital, Bor Town, are the western route running parallel to the River Nile and the eastern one constructed adjacent to Jonglei Canal. The western route is used during dry season only whereas the eastern one remains accessible all year but rarely used between December and April due to it length and insecurity threats from cattle rustlers.
The citizens of Panyagor and Pawel-Ajang remain vigilant as raiders are expected any time. Youth protecting cattle from raiders told Sudan Tribune that the prime suspects are Murle tribesmen. But the youth were reluctant to disclose the strength of their defense. Sudan Tribune independently obtained information that some cattle thefts, however, implicate local boys—specifically, intra-camp stealing.
Communities here are quite unwilling to show illegal arms if at all there are any. No young man can be seen bragging with his gun by the roadside, in trading centers or villages — indicating that the disarmament policy has taken effect or that love for gun is turning to hate for it.
(ST)
Deangelo Mayen
Education, a challenge to returnees in Jonglei’s Twic East
Forks as a verteran who took part to protect citizens in that war. It was absolutely ridculous and horiable to see the civilions have been murdered in that way. Personally, I don’t want to see any tribe to be kill or be in that kind of situation whether Nuer or Dinka. Machar’s Alhula Japbou movement(name given by Arab) which was back up by Arab were really miscalculated. The were just thinking that if the finished civilions in Bor, then there will be no SPLM/A. But it was idiot and cowardice act to leave not to attack SPLA units but to weapons to civilions. In addition that, I have not seen any out come of that decisions. It was just to tortured and targeted incence lives. Now my question is, how do you feel as leader who want to rule the nation while you ordered militians to massacred the other community you love them to lead now. In the bottom of my heart, I believes that Nuer people are my enemies the same thing to good Nuer people out there. I have my Nuer best friends and I can not generalize that all Nuer people are bad.
Nuer
Education, a challenge to returnees in Jonglei’s Twic East
Philip thon must stop preaching hate in the heart of southern Sudan. However, even though he keeps preaching hate there is no where the Dinka Bor are going to do anything since they are coward who just like to cry with no objective at all. With Nyadeng who is running around here southern Sudan without underwear, there is no where the Dinka Bor are going to question the naath nation. They are cowards, theives, and beggers.
My advice to Thon is that he should stop preaching hate because that will not take us anywhere. My problem most of the Dinkas is that they complain about some Nuer criticizing their activiiteis throughout the southern Sudan. They hyprocrite bastards.
Southern-boy
Education, a challenge to returnees in Jonglei’s Twic East
Good work Mr. Thon.Journalism has never been easy since its descovery and it’s not so even now in a free world.Why am I saying all this? It’s because I have been reading Sudan Tribune news and its readers have been more of critics to whatever is reported along tribal line.The school assessment you conducted was brilliant let alone a story that later touched a only groomed leader of the Nuers.Why on earth would someone want the 1991 incident never mentioned? I call it an insult to someone’s history.Dr.Machar was in Bor when this things were happening and it’s undeniable that not a thing happened without his knowleadge.There are elements around the world who wants to clear a political path for Dr.Machar at the expense of the victims and survivors of the 1991, but history is never remake and that is my hope. I am not saying that he doesn’t deserve anything in Southern Sudan but I saying that lets the victims and survivors decides his fate.I honestly owe much to any one who once joined the SPLA/SPLM to support our cause, Dr.Machar included,but any one who later defected and take away civilians lives has stained his past with blood and deserves no acknowleadgement.I believe there are good leaders in Nuer than Dr.Machar and the Nuers ought to leave him alone while Southerners judge and decides his fate.One true is true, if SPLA commanders were killers, Dr.Machar is more of that and never call his action with other names for the sake of matching him with his colleague but call it GENOCIDE.
Dr.Machar name will be mentioned from time to time and the nuers should not see it as preaching of hatred against them because they are not Machar only that he comes from them.We want to hold one man accountable rather than saying it was carried out by the Nuers and this is logical and acceptable in the world of sane people.Where in the world does the idea of Dinka-Bor VS Nuers comes in? Dinka-Bor know it very well that the devestation that befalls their land was engineered by one person who happened to be Dr.Machar, thus their call to hold him accountable for his actions.